The priority of the Narendra Modi government is to build everlasting links with the Indian Diaspora the world over, and the government’s outreach to the diaspora is moving towards the concept of the “Global Indian”, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Sunday.

Addressing the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Conference 2022 on “Role of Diaspora Youth in Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – Innovation and New Technologies”, he said that India is among the very few countries which has an extensive and evolving policy framework for engagement with the diaspora.

“The priority of the government led by our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji is to build everlasting links with the Indian Diaspora the world over. Whenever the Prime Minister is overseas, we see grand welcome to the leader and enormous shower of love on him.

“It is actually the faith of our diaspora, being reposed on India, and their pride in Indianness. Under Prime Minister’s leadership, our outreach to the diaspora, has taken new dimensions and evolved in a way, where we are moving towards the concept of "Global Indian”,” he said.

The Minister enumerated the programmes initiated by the Modi government to connect to the diaspora and collaborate in science and technology.

These are:

The VAJRA Faculty Scheme: Launched by PM Modi during the PBD in 2017, it brings an international dimension to the R&D ecosystem of India. It taps the expertise of International Faculty / scientists/technologists including NRI and PIO/ OCI in highly competitive areas of research and development by offering them adjunct / visiting faculty positions in Indian Institutions / Universities. It has special focus on engaging NRI / PIO / OCIs in National R&D Programs and thereby deepen their engagement for value addition to various S&T programs, projects and missions of the Government.

The PRABHASS or "Pravasi Bharatiya Academic and Scientific Sampark - Integrating Indian Diaspora with the Mother Land” initiative: It is an initiative to develop a database and a virtual platform to bring on board the Global Indian S&T Community to address the Indian social challenges / problems. The main objective of PRABHASS, is to invite and encourage Indian Diaspora to come forward, and join hands with India to help solve challenges being faced by Indian people, thereby making an impact on society at large.

Under the aegis of PRABHASS, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Vaishwik Bharatiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Summit, a global virtual summit of overseas and resident Indian researchers and academicians on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, 2020. About 2,600 overseas Indians registered for the summit online. About 3,200 panelists and about 22,500 academicians and scientists from India and overseas participated in this month-long series of webinars. These deliberations were aligned with national goals and priorities of research in India, said Muraleedharan.

VAIBHAV has led the way in establishing research capability as an important avenue towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat. It has paved the way for aligning contemporary research in the country towards a shared purpose in each area.

Resident and overseas Indians have given an integrated perspective of research and academic capabilities to seamlessly contribute to India’s S&T capability for global good. VAIBHAV has created an interactive and facile mechanism in the Cyberspace, and has promoted collaboration and the development of leadership, he said.

Muraleedharan said 2022 is very special as India celebrates the 75th anniversary of our independence.

“Not only in India but also in all other countries, our Missions and Posts are celebrating the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in a befitting manner. In the specific context of engaging the diaspora on thematic concepts and on the special occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Ministry has organised at least three thematic virtual conferences in the last couple of months.

“The idea was to engage with the diaspora virtually in spite of difficulties faced because of the pandemic. The topics included ‘Leveraging the Soft Power of India – Goodwill through Craft, Cuisine and Creativity”, "Future of Natural Resources (Hydrocarbons, Rare Earth Metals and Blue Economy)” and "Grimitya Conference”.”

“Indian Diaspora Youth plays an indispensable role in Innovation and New Technologies, at global level, and also at devising innovative solutions to local problems in India. I feel that the focus should also be on short duration, quick gain projects to address immediate challenges and deliver results in the shortest possible time. Time has come to dissolve the boundaries between private, public, national laboratories, academic institution towards synergizing and aligning national priorities to delivery based projects,” he stressed.